Mathematics and Physics
University of Manchester
UCAS Code: FG3C | Master of Mathematics and Physics
Entry requirements
A level
A*A*A-A*AA (to include Physics and Maths). We would normally require a pass in the Practical Assessment in the newly reformed science A levels. Typical Contextual Offer: Grades A*AA-AAA (to include Physics and Maths). We would normally require a pass in the Practical Assessment in the newly reformed science A levels.
AS level results are not considered as part of the standard admissions process at The University of Manchester.
Given that it is not possible to meet our published offer conditions within an Access course, we would not recommend an Access course as the best way of preparing for our courses. However, we would look very carefully at any applications from exceptional Access students who were on track to gain the AAA equivalent (45 credits at level 3 awarded at distinction). We would treat any such exceptional students on a case-by-case basis, looking very carefully at past academic history and the academic reference; promising candidates would be invited to interview to add supplementary information. A decision would be made about entry holistically on the basis of all information (including details of the course undertaken) and would usually be conditional on the above standard.
We consider applicants offering Pre-U Principal Subjects, or a mix of Pre-U and A Level subjects, provided a minimum of three distinct subjects overall is taken (to include Physics and Maths).
The University recognises the benefits of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and the opportunities it provides for applicants to develop independent study and research skills. Although the Extended Project will not be included in the conditions of your offer, we strongly encourage you to provide information about the EPQ in your personal statement and at interview. A number of our academic Schools may also choose to take your performance in the EPQ into account should places be available in August for applicants who narrowly miss the entry grades for their chosen course.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including acceptable levels of Literacy and Numeracy, equivalent to at least Grade C/4 in GCSE English Language and Mathematics. GCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE English Language.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
38-37 points overall with 7,7,6-7,6,6 at Higher Level (to include Physics and Maths) Changes to International Baccalaureate Diploma Mathematics Courses from September 2019, first examination 2021. We are aware of the planned changes to the IB Mathematics curriculum. IB students will be able to choose from: Mathematics: analysis and approaches and Mathematics: applications and interpretation from September 2019. For this programme of study we will accept: Higher Level Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches only.
OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma
We require D*D*-DD plus A Level Maths and Physics at Grade A*/A.
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate
We require D*/D plus A Level Maths and Physics at Grade A*/A.
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma
We require D*D*D-DDD plus A Level Maths and Physics at Grade A*/A.
We require D*-D plus A Level Maths and Physics at Grade A*/A.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
We require D*D*-DD plus A Level Maths and Physics at Grade A*/A.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
We require D*/D plus A Level Maths and Physics at Grade A*/A.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
We require D*D*D-DDD plus A Level Maths and Physics at Grade A*/A.
We require D*D*-DD plus A Level Maths and Physics at Grade A*/A.
Scottish Advanced Highers are normally required in one of the following combinations: Three Advanced Highers with grades AAB (to include Physics and Maths) or two Advanced Highers in Physics and Maths, Grades AA plus 2 additional Highers in other subjects with Grades AA English Language and Mathematics not taken at Higher/Advanced Higher must have been achieved at SCQF Level 5 (minimum National 5 Grade C/Intermediate 2 Grade C/Standard Grade Credit level Grade 3). If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact the Academic School(s) you plan to apply to.
Scottish Advanced Highers are normally required in one of the following combinations: Three Advanced Highers with grades AAB (to include Physics and Maths) or two Advanced Highers in Physics and Maths, Grades AA plus 2 additional Highers in other subjects with Grades AA English Language and Mathematics not taken at Higher/Advanced Higher must have been achieved at SCQF Level 5 (minimum National 5 Grade C/Intermediate 2 Grade C/Standard Grade Credit level Grade 3). If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact the Academic School(s) you plan to apply to.
The University welcomes and recognises the value of the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma/Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate and usually requires two A Levels or equivalent to be included within this. We require minimum Grade A from the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma/Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate. If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact the academic School(s) you plan to apply to.
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About this course
This course is designed for students who wish to study both mathematics and physics in depth. Students attend lectures, tutorials, examples classes and laboratory sessions covering a broad range of topics in mathematics and physics. Teaching is greatly strengthened by the wide variety of research interests pursued by the staff and there are large and lively groups active in both applied mathematics and theoretical physics. Topics of study from applied mathematics may include: hydrodynamics, waves, elasticity and modelling of industrial processes. The research interests of the theoretical physics group cover, amongst others, high energy particle physics, nuclear physics and quark matter and field theory in curved space-time.
It is possible to transfer to the 3-year BSc course at the beginning of your third year.
The Uni
University of Manchester
Department of Physics and Astronomy
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Physics
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
Mathematics
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Physics
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Although the subject has seen a bit of resurgence in recent years, the UK is still felt to be short of physics graduates, and in particular physicists training as teachers. If you want a career in physics research — in all sorts of areas, from atmospheric physics to lasers - you'll probably need to take a doctorate, and so have a think about where you would like to do that and how you might fund it (the government funds many physics doctorates, so you might not find it as hard as you think). With that in mind, it's not surprising that just over a fifth of physics graduates go on to take doctorates when they finish their degree, and well over a third of physicists take some kind of postgraduate study in total. Physics is highly regarded and surprisingly versatile, which is why physics graduates who decide not to stay in education are more likely to go into well-paid jobs in the finance industry than they are to go into science. The demand and versatility of physics degrees goes to explain why they're amongst the best-paid science graduates.
Mathematics
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Want to feel needed? This is one of the most flexible degrees of all and with so much of modern work being based on data, there are options everywhere for maths graduates. With all that training in handling figures, it's hardly surprising that a lot of maths graduates go into well-paid jobs in the IT or finance industries, and last year, a maths graduate in London could expect a very respectable average starting salary of £27k. And we're always short of teachers in maths, so that is an excellent option for anyone wanting to help the next generation. And if you want a research job, you'll want a doctorate — and a really good maths doctorate will get you all sorts of interest from academia and finance — and might secure some of the highest salaries going for new leavers from university.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Physics and astronomy
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£26k
£31k
£33k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Mathematical sciences
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£23k
£29k
£34k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):
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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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